Request for Tender for the Provision of Two Force Platforms for Clinical Gait Analysis

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1. At a glance

2. Scope of Work

This tender seeks the supply, delivery, installation, testing, and commissioning of two force platforms for clinical gait analysis at the Central Remedial Clinic (CRC). The equipment must be suitable for continuous clinical use, compatible with existing systems, and meet stringent regulatory requirements.

Key activities and requirements include:

• Equipment Supply: Provision of two force platforms with specific physical dimensions: 600 × 400 × 100 mm. These dimensions are mandatory for compatibility with existing recesses and mounting frames within the CRC's gait analysis laboratory.
• Integration: The force platforms must integrate effectively with the CRC's existing motion capture and analysis system (CodaMotion), including any necessary data acquisition systems and cabling.
• Performance: The equipment must deliver high-accuracy, high-resolution kinetic data suitable for gait analysis in both paediatric and adult populations, consistent with contemporary clinical and research standards.
• Durability: The force platforms must be robust and durable for continuous clinical use in a high-throughput environment.
• Regulatory Compliance: Full compliance with EU Medical Device Regulation (MDR) 2017/745, CE marking, and relevant standards including ISO 14971 (risk management) and IEC 61010 (electrical safety) is mandatory. Tenderers must provide evidence of conformity, including an EU Declaration of Conformity and CE Certificate.
• Disposal of Existing Equipment: The successful tenderer must arrange for the removal and environmentally compliant disposal of the existing gait laboratory force plates through an authorised waste management provider, with disposal records provided upon request.
• Documentation: Comprehensive technical documentation, including manufacturer's manuals, operational procedures, maintenance requirements, data-related functionalities, and evidence of regulatory compliance, must be provided.
• Training: User training for the new force platforms is required.
• Warranty and Maintenance: Details of warranty, including Service Level Agreement (SLA) response times, spare parts availability, and a preventative maintenance schedule, must be provided.
• User-Centred Design: The solution must be designed with a comprehensive understanding of clinical, technical, and operational needs, minimising operational friction and integrating seamlessly into clinical workflows.
• Operational Structure: The system must support clear, efficient, and intuitive workflows for data capture, calibration, synchronisation, and analysis, accounting for existing processes within the CRC Gait Analysis Laboratory.
• Sustainability: Environmentally responsible design principles, including energy-efficient operation, long-life components, and the use of recyclable or low-impact materials, are preferred.

The contract duration is anticipated to be 12 months, with an option for a 2-month extension.

3. Background & buyer context

The Central Remedial Clinic (CRC) is a publicly-funded Section 38 Agency, a registered charity, and a company limited by guarantee. It provides non-residential national services for the care, assessment, treatment, and development of children and adults with disabilities across Ireland. The CRC operates two main centres in Dublin and regional centres in Limerick and Waterford, alongside additional sites in Dublin. The organisation serves approximately 4,000 individuals annually and employs around 440 staff.

This procurement is driven by the need to upgrade the CRC's Gait Analysis Laboratory, which is Ireland's only clinical movement analysis laboratory. Established in 1989, the laboratory plays a critical role in assessing and managing complex gait disorders. The acquisition of new force platforms is intended to enhance clinical service delivery, improve data quality, and increase long-term operational efficiency. The CRC's core values of courage, collaboration, respect, quality, stewardship, and person-centeredness are expected to be reflected by the successful supplier.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

• Turnover requirement: Tenderers must provide confirmation of annual turnover for the last 3 years in the area of business covered by this RFT. If a tenderer has not been trading for three years, a statement to this effect must be provided, along with turnover confirmation for the years of trading. Specific minimum turnover figures are not stated.
• Insurance:
• Employer’s Liability: €13 million
• Public Liability: €6.5 million
• Professional Indemnity: €2.6 million any one claim
• Certifications: Not specified for this tender.
• Past experience:
• Minimum of five years' experience in the design, supply, installation, testing, and commissioning of clinical measurement technologies.
• Minimum of five years' experience in user-centred systems designed for clinical environments.
• Minimum of five years' experience delivering high-performance measurement hardware and software.
• Demonstrated experience in medical device compliance and safety standards, including MDR 2017/745, ISO 14971, and IEC 61010.
• Proven expertise in developing clear, accessible technical documentation.
• Personnel:
• Account Manager: Minimum 4 years' post-qualification experience.
• Lead Installation Engineer (or equivalent): Minimum 3 years' post-qualification experience on similar contracts.
• Installation Engineer (or equivalent): Minimum 3 years' post-qualification experience on similar contracts.
• Geographic / facility constraints: Not specified for this tender.

5. Award criteria & scoring

Criterion Weight (%) Sub-criteria